Quantitative variables were described using mean and standard deviation or median and interquartile range. Categorical variables were described by absolute and relative frequencies. To compare means between groups, Student's t-test for independent samples was applied. In case of asymmetry, the Mann-Whitney test was used. To compare proportions, the chi-square test was applied. To evaluate the ROME III and Bristol-scale pre-and post-intervention, the Wilcoxon test was applied. Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 18.0. The level of statistical significance was 5% (p ≤ 0.05).